WINGED POST
THE HARKER SCHOOL
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500 SARATOGA AVE.
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THE UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE HARKER SCHOOL VOL. 24 NO. 6
500 SARATOGA AVENUE, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95129
UPCOMING DATES CLASS OF 2023 GRADUATION THURSDAY, MAY 18
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2023
OUR YEAR’S MOST PROM-INENT EVENT
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL THURSDAY, JUNE 1
AP WEEK SCHEDULE
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9:55 - 11:20 a.m.
Period 3
12:30 - 1:55 p.m.
Period 4
2:05 - 3:30 p.m.
B/D DAYS Period 5
8 - 9:25 a.m.
Period 6
9:55 - 11:20 a.m.
Period 7
12:30 - 1:55 p.m.
Final grab for choice vika gautham & hima thota The Supreme Court announced a ruling that stripped women across the U.S. of their rights to their body, privacy and safety on June of 2022. Walgreens, an American pharmacy, announced in March that they would no longer be providing abortion medicine in states where republican officials threatened to take legal action. Now, the manufacturer of mifepristone, an abortion medication, is suing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent access to the drug. As more restrictions are applied, women are unable to speak up against the unfair laws created. If the most basic of legislation supporting female bodily autonomy can be overturned after decades, what other human rights are at stake in America? Continued on page 5.
School honors seniors via Baccalaureate kinnera mulam Seniors and juniors will attend the annual baccalaureate ceremony on May 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Quad. The event will honor the class of 2023 and their contributions through speeches by administrators, class leaders and faculty speaker Martin Walsh and performances by Harker performing arts groups. The ceremony also marks a transfer of leadership and responsibility from the seniors to the junior class.
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PHOTOS BY JONATHAN XUE
8 - 9:25 a.m.
GAMBLING GAMES Harshini Chaturvedula (11) and Nika Lebedev (12) participate in a game of roulette to win raffle tickets.
DAPPER DANCING Students dance and sing along to selected songs in the venue’s first floor at 2023 prom on Saturday, April 24. Around 330 juniors and seniors attended.
felix chen, jonathan xue & alison yang Juniors and seniors attended the 2023 “International Spy”-themed prom on April 24 in Blanco Urban Venue, with around 400 participants partaking in the festivities. Prom lasted from 7:30 to 11 p.m. and serves as the last major social event of the year for a majority of students. Blanco Urban Venue featured divisions into three major areas, with a dance floor and tables with snacks and refreshments below a deck with sweets and photo opportunities. The uppermost area, shaded by a large canopy, allowed students to mockgamble. “The energy from the music was solid,” Andrew Smith (11) said. “There were a few particularly hype songs played at most dances that were missed at this one, but I [still enjoyed] ‘HUMBLE’ by
Kendrick [Lamar] and ‘Just Wanna Rock’ by [Lil Uzi Vert].” Alongside the many students dancing and socializing, many adults helped make the event possible. Upper school English teacher Christopher Hurshman, who has attended Harker prom for over three years, commented on why he believes acting as an adult chaperone is so meaningful and essential to the event. “[I chaperone dances] because chaperoning is an important role,” Hurshman said. “It’s something the school needs us to do. Ms. Enzensperger and Mr. Kallbrier work hard to find a group of adults who are able to keep our students safe while also allowing them to have a good time.” In the month before prom, the Associated Student Board (ASB) held a promposal raffle for students. Participants submitted videos of their promposals, and seniors Samvita Gautham and Kris
PICTURE PERFECT Students mingle on the second floor of the prom venue, taking advantage of photo opportunities.
Estrada won free flowers, a corsage and boutonniere. As prom approached, upperclassmen set up promposals around campus or lurked in clothing boutiques downtown. Some attendees went with classic evening wear while others, like Lucy Feng (12), made their own outfits. For the class of 2023, this year’s prom served as their last high school social, the culmination of a high school experience like no other. For some seniors, like Athreya Daniel (12), this was also their first dance. “[My prom preparations] were pretty last minute,” Athreya said. “But I think that was the fun of it. The experience was new, but it was fun for me.” Whether prom became the last dance or served as the first of high school for many, the night remains one to remember for all. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.
Students hear class council Q&A for student council elections anwen hao & claire bauschlicher Why should I vote for you? How will you represent the student body? These are the questions students considered as they heard speeches from candidates running for Student Council and Student Activities Board (SAB) on Tuesday, with elections taking place on Thursday. Prior to elections, students received the chance to ask candidates about pertinent issues. The Q&A for the class of 2026 session focused on a variety of topics including more diverse spirit events and, more specifically, what the candidates promised to do about ping pong tables. Sophomore candidates also discussed their spirit achievements and their goal of community involvement. Finally, the class of 2024 chose between the more lighthearted questions such as “What cereal would you be and why” to the more spe-
ELECTION PROMISES Ananya Pradhan (9) answers a question during the frosh Q&A session on Tuesday. Before elections, students submitted questions to ask candidates.
cific and time-sensitive issues like identifying better methods for communication. By addressing such concerns, the candidates aimed to build trust with their fellow students and ensure transparency in their actions. Candidate Kabir Ramzan (11) emphasizes his community-oriented
ANWEN HAO
A/C DAYS Period 1
motives and goals in running for a Student Council position. “For me, I really feel like I have a close connection to my class,” Kabir said. “So I really want to help all of [my class] as much as possible and make everybody’s school lives easier.” DESIGN BY ANANYA SRIRAM AND EDWARD HUANG